As Pakistan strides towards progress and development, the journey towards achieving gender equality remains an ongoing challenge. While significant strides have been made in recent years, there are still emerging priority issues that require attention and action. In this article, we’ll explore some of these issues and discuss the ways in which Pakistan can address them to ensure a more equitable future for all its citizens.
Economic Empowerment:
Economic empowerment is essential for advancing gender equality in Pakistan. Despite efforts to increase women’s participation in the workforce, significant barriers persist, including limited access to education and vocational training, gender-based discrimination in hiring practices, and cultural norms that prioritize men’s economic
roles. To address this issue, Pakistan must focus on:
- Promoting access to quality education and vocational training for girls and women.
- Implementing policies that ensure equal pay for equal work and combat gender discrimination in the workplace.
- Providing support for women entrepreneurs and small business owners through access to credit, training, and market opportunities.
Gender-Based Violence:
Gender-based violence remains a pervasive issue in Pakistan, affecting women and girls in various forms, including domestic violence, honor killings, and child marriage. While there have been legislative reforms and awareness campaigns to address this issue, much more needs to be done. Pakistan must prioritize:
- Strengthening implementation and enforcement of existing laws and policies to protect women and girls from gender-based violence.
- Providing comprehensive support services for survivors, including legal aid, counseling, and shelter.
- Promoting cultural and social norms that reject violence and promote gender equality and respect for women’s rights.
Access to Healthcare:
Access to healthcare is critical for promoting gender equality and women’s well-being in Pakistan. Despite improvements in healthcare infrastructure, many women still face barriers to accessing quality healthcare services, particularly in rural and remote areas. To address this issue, Pakistan must focus on:
- Increasing investment in healthcare infrastructure and services, particularly in underserved areas.
- Addressing cultural and social barriers that prevent women from seeking healthcare, including lack of autonomy and decision-making power.
- Providing comprehensive reproductive healthcare services, including family planning, maternal healthcare, and access to contraceptives.
Political Participation and Representation:
Political participation and representation are essential for ensuring women’s voices are heard and their interests are represented in decision-making processes. While Pakistan has made progress in increasing women’s political participation, there is still a significant gender gap in political representation. To address this issue, Pakistan must focus on:
- Implementing measures to increase women’s participation in political parties and electoral processes.
- Implementing quotas or affirmative action policies to ensure women’s representation in elected bodies at all levels of government.
- Promoting leadership development programs for women and providing support for women candidates running for political office.
As Pakistan looks to the future, addressing emerging priority issues for gender equality is crucial for building a more equitable and inclusive society. By prioritizing economic empowerment, combating gender-based violence, improving access to healthcare, and promoting political participation and representation, Pakistan can create a future where all its citizens, regardless of gender, have equal rights, opportunities, and access to resources. It is only through collective action and commitment that Pakistan can achieve true gender equality and unlock the full potential of all its people.
Thankyou
Prof. Dr. Madeeha Malik
Executive Director, GIPI